Door frame construction



2 Sheets-Sheet l July 21, 1964 J. D. WHEELER DOOR FRAME CONSTRUCTIONFiled Nov. 7, 1961 July 21, 1964 J. D. WHEELER DooR FRAME CONSTRUCTION 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 7, 1961 United States Patent O 3,141,204 DORFRAME CONSTRUCTION James D. Wheeler, Birmingham, Ala., assignor toBrasco Manufacturing Company, Harvey, Ill., a corporation of DelawareFiled Nov. 7, 1961, Ser. No. 150,727 2 Claims. (Cl. Ztl- 11) Myinvention relates to door frame construction and has particularreference to a door frame in which the side frame members havetransversely movable pressure plates yieldingly mounted therein wherebywhen an object, such as the hand of an operator, is caught between theedge of the door and the side frames as the door is closing and pressureis imposed on the face plate, it is moved inward without damage to thehand of such person caught between the edges of the door and the sideframe.

Another and further object of my invention is the provision of doorframe construction adapted particularly for glass doors which usuallyhave the hinge pintles in the ends thereof spaced from the side edge ofthe door at the hinge side so that when the door is opened the edge ofthe door moves away from the door frame at each side of the door,leaving an opening at the hinged side of the door which may vary from aninch or so up to six inches in width and which upon closing is apt toclose upon the hand or the ingers of a person attempting to pass throughthe door as he places his hand upon the door to open or close it. Glassdoors are very heavy and because of the usual location of the pintles atremendous amount of leverage exists at the hinge side of the doorresulting in a crushing force being produced upon an object caughtbetween the door frame and the edge of the door on the hinged side withthe result that if a human hand is caught in this location, it is likelyto be crushed against the door frame, particularly if the hand is one ofa child, and thereby easily broken or injured.

Another and .further object of my invention is the provision of a doorframe construction in which, not only are the pressure plates yieldinglymounted in the side frames of a door, but said plates are so constructedthat a yieldable shield member is placed thereover for additionalprotection and which provides a further measure of safety should a handbe caught between the edge of the door and the door frame at either sidethereof in the closing operation thereof, which should also act as aweather strip` between the edge of the door and the door frame.

Another and further object of my invention is the provision of a doorframe having resiliently mounted pressure face plates therein which areengaged by the door when in closed position in such manner that a tightopening is formed at the sides of the door and at the same time thepressure plates are yieldingly mounted so that if an object such as ahand or the like is caught at either edge of the door, the pressureplate at this point yields so that only comparatively light pressure isexerted upon the hand, which is not heavy enough to result in seriousinjury to the hand of the person passing through the door.

Another and further object of my invention is the provision of a doorframe having movable spring or elastic supported pressure plates thereinwhereby injury to the hands or any part of the body caught therein isprevented, and while my invention is designed primarily to preventinjury caused by the door on the hinge side catching a hand or ingerbetween the edge of the door and the frame because the pressure force ismuch greater at this side of the door than it is at the opposite side, Iprefer to provide a pressure plate on the latch side of the door also soinjury is prevented ICC on either side of the door. The pressure platecould be provided only on the hinged side of the door because leveragedeveloped on the hinged side of the door as it is being closed is verymuch greater than on the opposite side of the door, particularly if thepressure is applied to the closing of the door by either mechanical ormanual means, as the pintles become the fulcrurn points of the leverageand are usually spaced a short distance from the frame on the hinge sideso that ysuiicient high pressure is developed to severely injure thehand of an adult and would be much more severe if the hand of a childwere involved.

These and other objects of my invention will be more readily and betterunderstood by reference to the accompanying sheet of drawings and inwhich- FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a door frame embodying myinvention with the usual glass door mounted therein;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the preferred form of my inventionthrough one of the door side frames on line 2 2 of FIG. l, showing thedoor in closed position, and showing snubber gussets mounted in the doorframe;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged vertical fragmentary sectional View on lines 3 3of FIG. 2 showing the door in closed position;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 2 showing the door in closed positionwith an object inserted between the edge of the door and the face of oneof the side members of a door frame;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a spring which is mounted in the sideframe member to normally bias a pressure plate outward, which is mountedin the door frame member.

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view through the door frame of a modifiedform of the combination showing the door in normally closed positionwith weather stripping thereon; and

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6 showing an object between the edge ofthe door and the pressure plate.

Referring now specifically to the drawings and in which like referencecharacters refer to like parts throughout, a door frame indicated as awhole as 10 is shown and which comprises a pair of side frames 11 and12, a header 13, a threshhold 14, and a glass door 15 mounted therein,the door 15 having a handle 16 mounted thereon. The door 15 is mountedupon an upper hinge pintle 17 extending into the header 13 and upon alower hinge pintle 1-8 also extending in the door 15 and into thethreshhold 14 at the bottom of the door frame. The pintles 17 and 18, aswill be noted, are set inward from the edge of the door a slightdistance so that as the door is opened, the hinge side of the door movesaway from the frame member 12 leaving a space between the door and thesaid side frame member 12. There is no well defined practice as to howfar inward these hinge pintles may be placed, but in all cases there isa sufficiently wide space between the door frame member 12 and the edgeof the door 15 to receive the hand of a person inserted therein eitherunintentionally or accidentally.

The side frames 11 and 12 usually extend the full length of the doorframe as shown with cross sections of individual members constituting myimproved frame shown in FIGS. 2 and 4 and also FIGS. 5 and 6 of thedrawings with a fragmentary somewhat enlarged vertical section shown inFIG. 3. Each side frame 11 and 12 preferably consists of two channelsections integrally formed together as a unit, the inner section beingof less depth and less width than is the outer section and is faced inthe same direction and fitted within the outer section with webs 25 and28 connecting the two channel sections together and having reverselyfaced channel sections, specifically designated herein as pressureplates fitted therein described in detail hereinafter. Each side member11 and 12 is preferably made of inner and outer channel sectionsintegrally formed as a unit, usually of extruded metal, and facing inthe same direction, the outer section having a web portion 19, flanges20 and 21 formed therewith on each of its sides, with the inner channelsection having a web portion 22, and ange portions 23 and 24 at eachside of the web portion 22, with a web portion 2S being provided whichconnects the outer edge of the flange 21 of the outer channel sectionwith the outer edge of the flange 24 of the inner channel section andhas a retainer channel 26 in the front face thereof and a rib 27 on theinner edge thereof for purposes hereinafter described. A web 28 connectsthe edge of the flange 2t) of the outer channel section with the edge ofthe ange 23 of the inner channel section and has a channel retainer 29in the outer face thereof and a rib 30 formed on the inner edge thereoffor purposes hereinafter described.

A transversely movable channel section or pressure plate designated as awhole as 31 is provided which spans the space between the Iianges 23 and24 on the inner channel section, and is confined within the innerchannel mem* ber, but is mounted for transverse movement therein. Thepressure plate 31 is integrally formed with face sections 32 and 33thereon and has narrow anges 34 and 35 at the outer edges of the facesections 32 and 33, which flanges 34 and 35 have outwardly extendingribs 36 and 37 on their outer sides which engage the ribs 27 and 30 onthe webs 25 and 28, thereby forming limit stops to the outward movementof the pressure plate 31. The pressure plate 31 has a saddle portion 38centrally thereof connecting the face sections 32 and 33, the saidsaddle section 38 having a central fiat section 39, depending angularsections 40 and 41, curved portions 42 and 43 which merge into reverselyextending sections 44 and 45 and which connect with the inner sides ofthe face sections 32 and 33 a slight distance from their inner edgeswhereby two angularly disposed channels are formed in the pres* sureplate 31 between the sections 41B, 44 and the inner edge of the section32 and the sections 41, 45 and the inner edge of the section 33 withinwhich the outer edges 46 and 47 of a curved cushion member 48 made of anelastic plastic material such as vinyl or rubber is mounted and whichextends throughout the length of each of the side frame members 11 and12, against which each edge of the door engages in its closed position.

A plurality of springs indicated as a whole as 49 is employed whichnormally bias the face plate 31 to its outer position in the innerchannel section as shown in FIG. 2 and consists of a flat blade portion50 having an angularly disposed free end 51 which rests upon the surfaceof a raised portion 55 of the web 22 of the inner channel section. Theblade 50 has spring side portions 53 and 54 which are in the form ofspring clips and are contoured to fit around the saddle portions 41, 43and 45 and also 40, 42 and 44 and clamp the blade portion 5t) of thespring to the saddle portion of the pressure plate 31, with the angulardisposed end 51 resting upon the raised portion 55 of the web 22 of theinner channel section with the spring blade 50 being under compressionat all times so the face plate 31 is biased outward in the door frame,but may be compressed until it is almost flat if an object such as 56becomes caught between the edge of the door 15 and the cushion member48. Elastic pads of rubber or vinyl material may be substituted for thesprings if desired and would produce the same results as the springs.

Vinyl or elastic composition snubber strips 57, 57 having base portions58, 58 thereon are fitted into the channels 26 and 29 respectively, inthe webs 25 and 28, and have elliptical shaped snubber portions 59, 59thereon with base portions 60, 60 integrally formed therewith, whichbase portions 60, 60 have flat surfaces 61, 61 in engagement with thefaces of the ribs 28 and 30 which support the snubber portions 59, 59 asthey are compressed by fianges 34 and 35 of the pressure plate 37 whenin its normal operative position as shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings. Thestrips 57, 57 are preferably of a vinyl composition impregnated with alubricant such as glycerine, are very soft, and have Very smoothsurfaces so very little friction is produced as the flanges 34 and 35 ofthe pressure plates move over the surface of these strips 57, 57. Thesnubbers 58, 58 also exert an inward pressure on the pressure plate 37,which holds the pressure plate 37 in position against ordinary operatingpressures, prevents movement of the pressure plate due to vibration andthe resultant rattling of the pressure plate, and also serves as aWeather seal around the pressure plate. The approximate amount ofcompression of the snubber strips is shown in F IG. 4 of the drawings.

Weather strips 62, 62 having base portions 63, 63 thereon which arefitted into the channels 26 and 29 respectively, may be used, ifdesired, instead of the combined weather and snubber strips 59, 59hereinabove described, although such strips 62, 62 only act as weatherstrips and do not prevent rattling or vibration of the pressure platesand, therefore, are not so desirable as the snubber strips in operation.

In the making of a door frame two side members, such as 11 and 12, ofsuitable length are used and joined together at their upper ends by aheader 13 and by a threshold 18 at their lower ends with the sidemembers 11 and 12 being placed so the pressure plates 31 carried by eachof said side members face each other from opposite sides of the dooropening. The door 15 is hinged upon the pintles 18, 18 which may beplaced upon either side of the door as desired, and may operate eitherto open in one direction only, or may swing freely to both directions asdesired.

The making and assembling of the frame is a comparatively simpleoperation in that the outer channel sections are preferably made ofextruded metal and the pressure plates are also made of extruded metalwith the springs 55 attached thereto and also the cushion member 48attached thereto by inserting the free edges thereof in the channelsformed in the pressure plate 31 with the cushion member 48 being ofsuiiicient width that it must be bent into arcuate form for insertioninto the pressure plate. The pressure plate 31 is disposed at an angleto be inserted into the inside channel with the springs 50 beingcompressed in the operation and the snubber strips 57, 57 placed inposition so that the space between the webs 25 and 28 in the sections 32and 33 is closed against the admission of dirt, air and the like whichalso adds to the appearance of the device. The weather strips 62, 62 maybe used instead of the snubber strip, as hereinabove described, ifdesired. In this condition the frame members 11 and 12 are placed insuch position that the pressure plates 31, 31 are on adjacent sidestoward each other on the inside of the frame. The pressure plates 31, 31are of the same length as the main frame members and are supported attheir ends by the frame of the building so that it is not possible forthese inside frames to move endwise out of position within the channelsections. The header 13 is secured to the upper ends of the main framemembers 10 and the threshold 14, added if desired, or may be placed inposition when the door frame is set in the building.

A plurality of the springs 49 have previously been attached to thepressure plate 31, these springs being comparatively soft in theiraction, and tending to keep the pressure plates biased outward so theribs 36 and 37 are in engagement with the sides of the ribs 27 and 30,which is the position they normally occupy in the assembled condition ofthe frames. Elastic blocks of rubber or other composite material may besubstituted for the springs, if desired, particularly for sounddeadening purposes. The door is mounted in the frame on the pintles insuch manner that its edges are in contact with the outer edges of thecushion member 48 as shown particularly in FIG. 2, thereby providing aclosure member at each side of the door against the admission of drafts0f wind and the like therethrough, but are yieldingly positioned thereinby reason of the cushioning eiect of the cushion member 48 and thesprings so that, as shown particularly in FIG. 4, if an object is caughtbetween one `of these cushions and the edge of the frame, the pressureplates 31, 31 are moved inward without any great amount of pressurebeing exerted upon the object, such as a hand or the like, so that evenif the hand of the user is caught in this position, even though it maybe a child, no serious injury results from being caught between the edgeof the door and the cushioning members. The mounting of the pressureplates is so designed that these plates will move approximately 3A of aninch transversely, which is ample room to prevent injury, particularlywith the yielding of the cushioning member which aords ample protectionshould the hand of the user be caught therein.

While I have described more or less precisely the method employed andthe apparatus used therewith, I do not wish to be understood `aslimiting myself thereto, as I contemplate changes in form and theproportion of parts `and the substitution of equivalents ascircumstances may suggest or render expedient without departing from thespirit or scope of my invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A door frame comprising parallel extending side frame members, a topheader secured to the said side frame members, and a threshhold at thebottom of the door opening defined by the said side frame members, theside frame members consisting of channel sections having pressure plateretaining ribs thereon, pressure plates mounted in the channel sectionshaving spaced channels in the faces thereof and retainer ribs thereonfor engagement with the retaining ribs on the channel sections, a exiblecushion mounted at each of its edges inthe spaced channels in thepressure plates and extending outwardly therefrom, and of substantiallygreater width than is the door engaged thereby, and elastic membersmounted between the pressure plates and the web of the channel sectionnormally lbiasing the face plates to their outer positions andpermitting inward movement of the said pressure plates.

2. A door frame member consisting of a channel section having inwardlyprojecting retainer ribs thereon, a movable face plate mounted withinthe said channel section having ianges thereon on its outer edgescooperating with the retainer ribs on the said channel section to limitthe outward movement of the said face plate, the said face plate havinglongitudinally extending spaced channels formed therein, a flexiblecushion member mounted on its edges in the channels in the face plate,the said cushion member being wider than is the distance between thechannels in the face plate, and springs secured to the projections onthe rear side of the face plate with their free ends in engagement withthe channel section whereby the face plate is biased in an outwarddirection.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS562,503 Sutherland June 23, 1896 1,826,121 Brogie Oct. 6, 1931 2,686,942Spector Aug. 24, 1954 2,718,677 Cornell Sept. 27, 1955 2,731,681 GallJan. 24, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 16,664 Great Britain July 28, 1896

1. A DOOR FRAME COMPRISING PARALLEL EXTENDING SIDE FRAME MEMBERS, A TOPHEADER SECURED TO THE SAID SIDE FRAME MEMBERS, AND A THRESHHOLD AT THEBOTTOM OF THE DOOR OPENING DEFINED BY THE SAID SIDE FRAME MEMBERS, THESIDE FRAME MEMBERS CONSISTING OF CHANNEL SECTIONS HAVING PRESSURE PLATERETAINING RIBS THEREON, PRESSURE PLATES MOUNTED IN THE CHANNEL SECTIONSHAVING SPACED CHANNELS IN THE FACES THEREOF AND RETAINER RIBS THEREONFOR ENGAGEMENT WITH THE RETAINING RIBS ON THE CHANNEL SECTIONS, AFLEXIBLE CUSHION MOUNTED AT EACH OF ITS EDGES IN THE SPACED CHANNELS INTHE PRESSURE PLATES AND EXTENDING OUTWARDLY THEREFROM, AND OFSUBSTANTIALLY GREATER WIDTH THAN IS THE DOOR ENGAGED THEREBY, ANDELASTIC MEMBERS MOUNTED BETWEEN THE PRESSURE PLATES AND THE WEB OF THECHANNEL SECTION NORMALLY BIASING THE FACE PLATES TO THEIR OUTERPOSITIONS AND PERMITTING INWARD MOVEMENT OF THE SAID PRESSURE PLATES.